2012 in review

1. Occupy Winston-Salem member Mike McGuire spoke with Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse on the steps of City Hall on New Year’s Eve. [“Occupy Winston-Salem rejects open-air public meetings proposal”; Jan. 4, 2012; by Keith T. Barber] (photo by Keith T. Barber)2. David Spencer, senior curator at the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, unearths some cherished footage. [“Reel treasure: The UNCSA School of Filmmaking’s Moving Image Archives”; Jan. 4, 2012; by Mark Burger] (photo by Keith T. Barber)3. Artist Jeff Taylor works at his studio on Lyndon Street in Greensboro in January. Taylor died suddenly and unexpectedly in May. His legacy inspired the reopening of a legendary art space, which was renamed 205 Collaborative, in October. [“Art as a refuge”; Jan. 18, 2012; by Keith T. Barber] (photo by Keith T. Barber)4. Kasey Horton (left) and Allyson Clark were among a number of same-sex couples in the Triad who publicized their relationships in the news media to highlight the implications of the marriage amendment, a ballot initiative that enshrined North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution. [“A many splendored thing”; Feb. 8, 2012; by Brian Clarey] (photo by Jordan Green)5. Forsyth County Manager Dudley Watts explained to members of the Forsyth County Commission how a scheduled property revaluation in 2014 is expected to reduce revenues to the county. [“Forsyth reval expected to cut into county budget”; Feb. 15, 2012; by Jordan Green] (photo by Jordan Green)6. Comic artist Ming Doyle showed off her work at Acme Comics. [“Womanthology artists participate in Acme Comics panel”; Feb. 22, 2012; by Eric Ginsburg] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)7. Gymnast Kristin Aloi, a 2010 graduate of Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, competed with UNC-Chapel Hill against George Washington University in February. [“Triad gymnasts go big time”; March 7, 2012; by Tilly Gokbudak] (photo courtesy of UNC Athletic Communications)8. A Guilford County detention officer gave a tour of the old jail in Greensboro. [“The new jail is on time and under budget, but was it worth it?”; March 14, 2012; by Eric Ginsburg] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)9. The Lehigh Mountain Eagles thanked hometown fans from Pennsylvania after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Greensboro Coliseum in March. [“A Cinderella story”; March 21, 2012; by Brian Clarey] (photo by Al Drago)10. The Red Hot Chili Peppers proved they still have a hot stage show at the Greensboro Coliseum in April. [“Sweet sacred bliss: RHCP live in Greensboro”; April 11, 2012; by Ryan Snyder] (photo by Michael Strider)11. It’s easy to forget that there was a contentious Republican primary for president. When Newt Gingrich spoke at Conservatives for Guilford County’s rally in April, Mitt Romney had already sewn up the nomination. [“Using the term ‘presidential hopeful’ loosely”; April 18, 2012; by Eric Ginsburg] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)12. Ray Herrera, a Democratic Party operative, handed out the so-called “yellow flier” outside an early-voting location in Winston-Salem. The electioneering effort used deceptive tactics to steer uninformed voters towards a particular slate of Democratic candidates. [“The fixers: Illegal electioneering, a dubious PAC and pay-to-play in Forsyth elections”; April 25, 2012; by Jordan Green] (photo by Jordan Green)13. Greensboro musicians Molly McGinn and Scott Hicks sing in a punk version of Laurelyn Dossett’s “Vote Against Amendment One.” [“Love thy neighbor: Video ignites musical pushback to amendment”; May 2, 2012; by Eric Ginsburg] (photo courtesy of Monkeywhale)14. Orfilia Sagastume-Reyes, a Guatemalan immigrant who faced deportation in May, received kisses from her sons Fredi (left) and Fredd. [“Stories of motherhood”; May 9, 2012; by staff] (courtesy photo)15. Andrea Angelo and Tonya Hart (right) requested — and were denied — a marriage license from the Forsyth County Register of Deeds two days after North Carolina voters approved a referendum enshrining a law prohibiting same-sex marriage in the state constitution. [“Gay marriage finds acceptance among some even as referendum points in different direction”; May 16, 2012; by Jordan Green] (photo by Jordan Green)16. Retired FBI Assistant Director Christopher Swecker (center) shared a moment with lawyer Mark Rabil (left) and Wake Forest University professor Stephen Boyd before a press conference in which he called a Winston-Salem Police Department investigation that led to the imprisonment of Kalvin Michael Smith “seriously flawed and woefully incomplete, thus calling into question whether the original trial jury rendered their verdict based on all the relevant and accurate facts of the case.” [“Retired FBI agent: Kalvin Michael Smith deserves new trial”; June 6, 2012; by Jordan Green] (photo by Jordan Green)17. An unidentified woman dances at the Mosaic Festival in downtown Greensboro. [unpublished] (photo by Ryan Snyder)18. Megan Parker (left) and Shana Carignan play with their son Jax. [“ACLU lawsuit challenges second-parent adoption ban”; June 20, 2012; by Eric Ginsburg] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)

19. Is there a better way to spend the summer than swimming? Our cover story on the Greensboro Community Swim Association City Meet, held at the Greensboro Coliseum, dove right into the competition, with editor and swim dad Brian Clarey taking readers through some of the 123 races in two pools and getting down to the basics. [“Strokes inside the Greensboro city meet”; by Brian Clarey; July 11, 2012] (photo by J. Neff Photography)20. State Reps. Alma Adams and Pricey Harrison wrote a letter to the Greensboro City Council saying the body had undermined the public in favor of business interests like the Triad Real Estate and Building Industries Coalition by opposing the Jordan Lake Rules. The rules are designed to protect the watershed feeding into the Jordan Lake, including streams like the one above in Greensboro. Opponents of the rules say they aren’t based on solid science and hinder development. 21. It’s been four years since a Greensboro police officer shot and killed her son and longer since JoAlice Smith saw a different officer shoot and kill her husband. The tragedies that struck the same family twice were also the source of questions about police use of force and a plethora of questions that remain about what really happened when Smith’s son was killed. After the article ran, Smith reported an increase in police harassment. [“Twin tragedies: The strength of JoAlice Smith”; by Eric Ginsburg; July 25, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)22. Just look at that face. We run an issue about dogs every year, but this pup stole our heart and we couldn’t help but run a handful of adorable pictures for the little guy. We wrote about the Greensboro SPCA’s struggle to keep the lights on this year and other programs that help pets in this issue as well, but let’s all just take a moment and admire this pug’s mug.23. Residents at the Cascades Grandview near downtown Greensboro were forced to leave the apartment complex after power was cut off due to non-payment. Residents gathered outside the next day waiting to be let in to retrieve their belongings and trying to figure out a plan. Housing and homelessness were big topics this year, especially in August. Articles this month covered a survey of the homeless in Winston-Salem, a homeless youth shelter that successfully sought emergency funds from Guilford County and a man accused of scamming people for money by promising false housing options in Greensboro. [“Residents evicted in late-night condemnation”; by Eric Ginsburg; Aug. 22, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)24. A sunflower blooms in front of the backdrop of downtown Winston-Salem. Community gardens have become more prevalent in economically depressed parts of East Winston, where businesses, churches, schools and residents have come together to beautify areas while growing food. The gardens are one way residents are working to address economic inequality and food deserts. (“Hope grows in East Winston gardens”; by Jordan Green; Aug. 29, 2012] (photo by Jordan Green)25. President Obama and the Democrats took over Charlotte for a week at the beginning of September for the Democratic National Convention. We were on the ground, scraping together scenes from protests, the convention floor and behind the scenes. Above, the President waved to supporters on the final day of the convention. [“Three days in Charlotte — a reporters’ notebook from the 2012 Democratic National Convention”; by Brian Clarey, Eric Ginsburg and Jordan Green; Sept. 12, 2012] (photo by Jordan Green) 26. We were impressed by the skill of the chefs, the taste of the food and the turnout of support. After similar cooking competitions throughout the state, Fire in the Triad matched some of the area’s best cooking crews against each other in a blind competition in which judges and attendees weighed in with their opinions on dishes that used a different surprise ingredient in each match. [“Fire in the Triad lights up food scene”; by Brian Clarey; Sept. 19, 2012] (courtesy photo)27. High Point is one of the state’s oldest electric cities, providing its own power to residents and offering a level of local control over the utility. While it costs slightly more than Duke Energy, which covers the other Triad cities, High Point officials say it has been a significant tool for economic development and allows for greater democracy and transparency. Frank Tyler showed YES! Weekly around some of the city’s substations, and the electric city graced the cover. [“Electricity: Is energy High Point’s edge”; by Eric Ginsburg; Sept. 26, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)28. Greensboro launched a downtown food truck pilot program at the beginning of October amidst some pushback from restaurant owners who feared their mobile competition would undercut their bottom line. Trucks were restrained to a block on Commerce Place, but the pilot resulted in a temporary lift to a ban on food trucks downtown. The Greensboro City Council will revisit the decision after a six-month trial run. [“Food truck pilot begins downtown Greensboro”; by Eric Ginsburg; Oct. 3, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg) 29. Bassnectar took over the Greensboro Coliseum in early October. As he described the scene: “The colorful little balloons that were handed out were, to some, after-party digestifs and a vessel of all that Bassnectar is in one: ephemeral in effect, extremely hazardous in large quantities and, what anyone who’s ever been to the dentist knows, more fun than any responsible person will ever let on.” Later that month, A&T’s Homecoming concert packed the place, and Snyder provided a preview of Asheville’s Moogfest. [“Worshipping at the temple of boom”; by Ryan Snyder; Oct. 3, 2012] (photo by Ryan Snyder)30. Monsters in the closet. Vampires. Zombies, witches and chainsaw massacres. With our voter guide coming out on Halloween day, we launched or Halloween issue a week prior with tales of first frights and profiles of several people in the business of fear. This promo shot from Kersey Valley Spooky Woods was the scariest photo we ran. [“My first fright”; by Ian McDowell; Oct. 24, 2010] (photo by Reed Photography)31. The Winston-Salem chapter of the Black Panther Party was honored with a historical marker along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive shortly before former members held a reunion conference in town. Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale (left) and local Panther leader Larry Little were among the well-known names involved in the anniversary. [“Power to the people: The Black Panthers get their due in Winston-Salem”; by Jordan Green, Nov. 7, 2012] (photo by Jordan Green)32. Hank Henning was one of three new Republicans to win seats on the Guilford County Commission. Conservatives held on to the NC General Assembly, took the governor and lieutenant governor’s seats, saw significant gains on the Guilford County Commission and turned the state red for Romney. It wasn’t enough to push the Republican nominee for president to victory, but proved the ability of the strong ground game for local, state and national candidates to come up with victories. [“Guilford County Commission shifts right, turnout high”; by Eric Ginsburg; Nov. 7, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg) 33. The jury deliberated for three and a half days before finding three defendants not guilty and three others guilty in the Latin Kings trial. Jorge Cornell, the leader of the Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation in North Carolina who was known for his community work and a gang peace treaty in Greensboro, was among those found guilty of racketeering. Above, supporters held banners outside the courthouse in Winston-Salem while the jury deliberated. Sentencing will occur in 2013, but the defense lawyers have filed for a retrial. [“Jury deliberates in Latin Kings racketeering trial”; by Jordan Green; Nov. 21, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)34. High Point’s first African-American to be elected mayor, Bernita Sims, was sworn into office in December. After long-time Mayor Becky Smothers announced she would run for council at-large, the field swelled with mayoral hopefuls. Several other new council members were elected as well. [“Bernita Sims sworn in as mayor of High Point”; by Jordan Green; Dec. 5, 2012] (photo by Jordan Green)35. Winston-Salem Councilwoman Wanda Merschel, a developer and residents discussed expanded student housing options that have angered locals. We’ve covered numerous zoning and development battles this year, including an article last week on the Northern Beltway in Winston-Salem. [“Opponents regroup when developer purchases land for student housing”; by Jordan Green; Dec. 12, 2012] (photo by Jordan Green)36. We dove into some of the history of Greensboro’s DIY music scene that Andrew Dudek has been involved in over the past 20 years. Dudek helped open numerous venues in town like Gate City Noise, the Flying Anvil and Square One, and also reminisced about a house-show space called Dick Street. A follow-up column last week delved into several new music projects in town that carry on that tradition. [“A scene grows up”; by Eric Ginsburg; Dec. 12, 2012] (photo by Eric Ginsburg)